Health Matters: Recovering from a Stroke

Face, Arms, Speech, and Time—FAST is the acronym health experts use to quickly recognize and respond to a stroke. “If you are showing signs and symptoms of a stroke, it’s pertinent that you get to the hospital and get assessed right away

Monday, August 26th 2019, 8:52 AM EDT by Health Matters

Updated:

Monday, August 26th 2019, 8:53 AM EDT

Face, Arms, Speech, and Time—FAST is the acronym health experts use to quickly recognize and respond to a stroke. “If you are showing signs and symptoms of a stroke, it’s pertinent that you get to the hospital and get assessed right away,” explained Sarah Woodmancy, a physical therapist with Lee Health.

Things like family history, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, age, and smoking can put patients at risk for a stroke.

“A lot of people think that within the first year is all the recovery they are going to have, and that’s not accurate,” said Woodmancy.

Woodmancy works with patients after they suffer a stroke. “The first thing is to get them as independent as possible and being safe within the house, so a lot of discussions with modifications to the home, what the caregivers can do to assist them.”

If needed, patients may undergo physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy to help them quickly address and overcome any deficits caused by the stroke. “Sometimes patients come in, and they’re having a lot of dizziness and balance issues, and that’s what we’re working on. Some people they can’t even get themselves out of bed, so it might just be that we’re starting with basics of getting dressed, getting out of bed, feeding themselves, sitting upright,” she said.

Treatments that can speed up the recovery and over time help patients manage any long-lasting deficits.